Why Can't Johnny Compromise?

[ng_nighthawk]

So here is the fundamental question: do we lack a Henry Clay in today's world, or if Henry Clay were transported to the modern world would he shrug his shoulders? Was finding common ground between those who believed slavery was a moral blight on the nation and those who believed it was an economic necessity really easier than debating the

Comments

[dr_tectonic]

There's a lot of truth in your analysis, but I think you're giving too much credit to the contrarians. I don't think the main opponents of compromise are taking a hardline position because they're being true to their constituencies, but because conservative politics has been hijacked by authoritarianism in the service of the wealthy.

What are the driving forces behind our pervasive mistrust and lack of respect for difference? Who's selling that, and who's profiting from it? Who pushes fear and dogma instead of bravery and dialogue?

[ng_nighthawk]

I was of course trying to be balanced... perhaps trying a bit too hard to give credit to philosophies I disagree with as being authentic, because it feels too easy to say that the ideologies I oppose aren't authentic